Report by Tommy Doleman

Ludovic Boi netted a brace as Floreat Athena came from two goals down to defeat Stirling Lions 4-2 in an enthralling rivalry round clash.

Visitors Stirling were lively from the off, netting twice inside the opening 11 minutes, only for Floreat to launch a remarkable comeback.

Blair Govan's header and Lewis McMahon's penalty leveled it up at the break before Fraser Greenwood saved Daniel Micevski’s penalty with 20 minutes to play.

Two classy finishes from Boi made sure Stirling regretted that miss as the hosts closed to gap on Bayswater to five points.

Floreat coach Glen Grostate was pleased his team was able to get the win to put some pressure on the leaders, who host Perth tomorrow at Frank Drago Reserve.

“It’s not in our hands, but it’s really Bayswater’s to lose,” he said.

“You never know on the day though, anything is possible.

“Perth are in form and the young lads are scoring goals, so hopefully they can do us a bit of a favour.”

Grostate also acknowledged the importance of the rivalry round clash and praised the efforts of match winner Boi, who netted his 11th and 12th league goals of the season against his former side.

“The rivalry is there. You can hear the screaming and shouting and it means a lot of the supporters,” he said.

“They came out the blocks pretty quick and we conceded two silly goals, but you could see the boys were digging in and pressing and I appreciate they stuck together and dug deep.

“Ludo’s been through a bit of a patch, but he’s tricky in the box and it was really good for him to get the two goals.”

It was a blistering start from Stirling, who led inside seven minutes, when Daniel Micevski found space in behind to fire past Greenwood.

The away side then had a second four minutes later as Brodie Martin’s cross evaded Micevski, but Lawrence Shuruma was at the back post to side-foot home.

The pace of Stirling was worrying Floreat’s back four and they should have had a third when Micevski missed what looked to be an open goal from Teeboy Kamara’s cut-back.

But Floreat worked their way back into it, dominated the final 15 minutes of the half, and were rewarded when Govan headed home after Joel Driscoll missed Jack Allen’s cross.

Incredibly, they were level at the break, as the hosts were awarded a spot-kick for handball and McMahon made no mistake in first half added time.

Stirling’s pace was exhilarating though and they still caused a problem on the break as Kamara was denied brilliantly by Greenwood.

The goalkeeper was again a hero on 69 minutes, diving to his left to palm away Micevski’s penalty, and Stirling were made to rue that moment soon after.

Boi showed neat footwork in the area to round the goalkeeper before passing the ball into an empty net.

And he would have the final say 13 minutes from time, as he dinked sublimely over an on-rushing Driscoll to give Athena the derby bragging rights.

Floreat Athena 4 (Govan 37mins, McMahon 45+1pen, Boi 71’, 77’)
Stirling Lions 2 (Micevski 7mins, Shuruma 11’)
Saturday 18 July 2015
E&D Litis Stadium
Local kick-off: 3:00pm
 
Floreat Athena: GK: Fraser GREENWOOD, 2. Blair GOVAN, 3. Jack ALLEN, 4. Aryn WILLIAMS, 6. Clayton ARNEZ, 8. Jon STYNES, 11. Dennis GALAN (5. Bobby WILSON 85’), 12. Kris GATE, 14. Ludovic BOI, 18. Phil ARNOLD, 20. Lewis MCMAHON.
Substitutes not used: 99. Jordan Barbas, 10. Andrew SCALDAFERRO, 17. Callum FRANSZ, 19. Steve BURTON
Yellow Cards: Govan 89’
Red Cards: Nil

Stirling Lions: 1. Joel DRISCOLL, 2. Michael PUGLIESE, 3. Steve PURTON, 6. Brodie MARTIN, 7. Miki VUJACIC, 10. Daniel MICEVSKI, 11. Moses KALAU, 13. Billy QUINNCROFT (8. Tim HILL 76’), 14. Lawrence SHURUMA (15. Robert PETKOV 82’), 17. Teeboy KAMARA (16. Alen PATAROV 90’), 18. Kyran NUNES
Substitutes not used: 24. Lance ALAVAKIS
Yellow Cards: Vujacic 57’, Micevski 60’
Red Cards: Nil